DOES VIEWING VIOLENT MEDIA INDUCE AGGRESSION IN PRISON INMATES? AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Authors

  • Narcisa Gianina CARANFIL R & C Professional Society of Psychology, Iasi
  • Carla Carmen DIACONU Penitentiary of Iasi

Keywords:

exposure to violent media, prison inmates, aggression, experimental study

Abstract

The adverse effects that exposure to violent media has on emotional and behavioral individual functioning is well-documented. Some experimental studies conducted by L. Berkowitz and his associates have shown that viewing media violence increases the likelihood of short-term aggressive and violent behavior in observers. Based on these previous findings, a field experimental study was conducted at Rahova Prison. Forty-nine prison inmates were randomly divided into two experimental groups. Two weeks before the experiment, subjects completed a set of questionnaires that targeted their TV consumption habits, trait- and state-aggression as well as trait- and state-anxiety. In the second phase of our study, one group of subjects watched a 30-minute video montage of violent news, while the other group watched a montage of entertainment. Immediately after watching the video montage, subjects in each experimental group completed again the questionnaires that targeted their state-aggression and state-anxiety. Results did not support our working hypothesis. Some particular circumstances would explain the contradictory results we obtained. These circumstances are briefly discussed.

References

Buss, A. H., & Perry, M. (1992). The Aggression Questionnaire. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63 (3), 452-459.

Gheorghe, V. (2005). Efectele televiziunii asupra mintii umane. Bucuresti: Editura Evanghelismos.

Povar?, A. (2006). Violenta in buletinele de stiri romaneşti. Revista de Asistenta Sociala, 1, 55-65.

Robu, V. (2012). Violenta comunitara: cauze, forme de manifestare si prevenire. Psihologie. Revista Stiintifico-Practica, 3, 36-53.

Spielberger, C. D. (1983). Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press, Inc.

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Published

2014-12-30

How to Cite

CARANFIL, N. G., & DIACONU, C. C. (2014). DOES VIEWING VIOLENT MEDIA INDUCE AGGRESSION IN PRISON INMATES? AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY. Anuarul Universitatii Petre Andrei Din Iasi - Fascicula: Asistenta Sociala, Sociologie, Psihologie, 13, 113-131. Retrieved from https://lumenpublishing.com/journals/index.php/upa-law/article/view/813

Issue

Vol. 13 (2014): Anuarul Universitatii "Petre Andrei" din Iasi - Fascicula: Asistenta Sociala, Sociologie, Psihologie

Section

Articles

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